TOKYO TRAVEL TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS | 30+ Must-Knows Before Visiting Tokyo + What NOT to Do!
Discover Tokyo's must-see sights and essential tips for first-time visitors in this curated guide. From the electric energy of Shibuya and Akihabara to the serene beauty of the Imperial Palace and Ueno Park, explore the diverse facets of Japan's captivating capital.
Hotel Indigo Shibuya
A gorgeous hotel in Shibuya with amazing views, close to iconic sites and shopping, though very busy and congested with tourists.
Ueno
A quieter part of Tokyo with lots to see nearby, easy walkability to Asakusa and Akihabara, and a panda mascot.
Shibuya Sky
A popular viewpoint in Tokyo where tickets go on sale two weeks in advance, with sunset slots usually selling out quickly.
Imperial Palace
A popular tour location where tours open up at 5 am on the first day of the month preceding the tour date, with a few hundred slots left for walk-ins.
Ghibli Museum
A popular museum where tickets become available for purchase at 10 am JST on the 10th of each month for the subsequent month.
Toyosu Market
Home to the Tuna Auction, which is on a lottery system and opens up a month before.
Pokémon Cafe
A themed café in Nihonbashi that is super hard to get tickets for, with tickets released 31 days in advance and slots tending to go immediately, though last-minute bookings can pop up.
Ninja Restaurant
A themed restaurant that has good food based on reviews.
TeamLab Planets TOKYO
A digital art museum where tickets can generally be bought a few days in advance unless there's a big holiday.
Tokyo Skytree
A viewing platform, which is the highest in all of Japan.
Tokyo Tower
An observation tower that is lit up in the distance from Zojo Ji.
Roppongi Hills Observation Deck
A popular viewing platform.
Narita International Airport
One of Tokyo's two international airports, and the bigger one that services more flights and airlines, so it is possible to get a better deal flying in and out of there.
Haneda Airport
One of Tokyo's two international airports, and the one that is much closer to the city center and has amenities like a rooftop onsen.
Asakusa
A neighborhood easily walkable from Ueno.
Akihabara
A neighborhood easily walkable from Ueno, and where there is a multi-story arcade.
Ginza
A neighborhood with upscale vibes and luxury shopping.
Marunouchi
A neighborhood with upscale vibes and luxury shopping.
Yamanote Line
The circular train line that contains what most people consider to be "central Tokyo."
Shibuya
A top pick for those who want to be in the middle of the action, close to the night life and all the entertainment, though options here definitely tend to be pricier.
Shinjuku
A top pick for those who want to be in the middle of the action, close to the night life and all the entertainment, though options here definitely tend to be pricier; also, a place where you might see touts.
Nihonbashi
Location of the Pokémon Cafe.
Sanrio Character Garden Café
A themed cafe by Ueno Park with cute plushies, but the coffee is straight-up from one of those serve-yourself machines.
Ueno Park
The location near Sanrio Character Garden Café.
Harajuku
Location of Aruyama Cafe where a fluffy bear serves coffee; also, a place where you might see touts.
Shinjuku Golden Gai
A unique, quintessentially Tokyo nightlife experience made up of about six narrow streets and crammed with over 200 tiny bars.
Senso-ji
A temple that is gorgeous at night with its illuminations.
Zojo-ji
A temple that is wonderful to experience without crowds and with the Tokyo Tower lit up in the distance after sunset.
Asahi Sky Room
A tiny rooftop bar in the Asahi headquarters that might be a battle to get a window seat at because this space is super, super small.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
A place with a free option for views.
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
A place that has a pretty cool rooftop.
Kappabashi Kitchen Street
A place where kitchenware stuff can be much more affordable.
Miyashita Park
A cool rooftop oasis in the middle of the city where there's green space and outdoor activities like beach volleyball, plus some cool pop-up bars near Shibuya Scramble.
PARCO
An amazing department store near Shibuya Scramble where you'll also find the Shibuya Pokémon Center.
Shibuya Pokémon Center
A Pokémon Center located in PARCO near Shibuya Scramble.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
A famous huge crosswalk, and a starting point for sightseeing where you can find lots of cool, more hidden spots super close to it that you've never heard of.